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SFPUC releases city parcel inventory; public urges open‑space protections
Summary
Staff presented a GIS inventory of SFPUC-owned parcels in San Francisco and identified sites suitable for community gardens, recreation and rooftop or reservoir-mounted solar. Public commenters and neighborhoods urged prioritizing conservation and public access—particularly at Francisco Reservoir and Laguna Honda—while staff proposed criteria and a phased implementation plan.
The commission reviewed a citywide inventory of San Francisco parcels owned or managed by the SFPUC and discussed potential new uses including renewable energy, community gardens, recreation and limited development.
Laura Spangen (External Affairs) and Gary Dowd (Real Estate Services) presented GIS-mapped parcels and categorized them into operational-only sites, parcels with existing other uses but expansion potential, underused parcels (potential for solar or community use), and parcels that staff recommends preserving or stewarding for habitat and open space.
Highlighted parcels included Sunset Reservoir (34 acres; a 5-megawatt solar lease is under way and initial panels expected next month), Laguna Honda (25+ acres with beekeeping and potential gardening but treacherous terrain and eucalyptus stands), College Hill Reservoir (classroom lease and potential community garden parcel), Francisco Reservoir (long-identified surplus with historic Lawrence Halprin landscape that neighborhood groups want opened as public open space), Balboa Reservoir (subject to a swap with City College), and various rooftops and plant sites suitable for solar.
Public speakers and local groups urged restraint on development and emphasized biodiversity, habitat protection and public access. Peter Brasso of Nature in the City urged habitat-focused stewardship for sensitive parcels such as Sutro and O—Shaughnessy; Bruce Keane (Russian Hill Improvement Association) urged preserving Francisco Reservoir as open space and referenced a Board of Supervisors resolution favoring open-space status.
Commissioners requested staff to return Feb. 23 with a draft approach to guiding principles, a prioritization matrix and a timeline that highlights parcels likely to require action or lease decisions in the next 3–6 months. Staff proposed commissioner site tours and said some shorter-term actions (community gardens, rooftop solar) could proceed with additional stakeholder outreach and site-level analysis.
No policy decisions were made; staff will continue stakeholder engagement and bring a draft policy/criteria document and implementation schedule back to the commission for consideration.
